The foothills of the Vercors
We are rather blessed in the Valence Romans territory. We have an exceptional view over the foothills of the Vercors mountains. These mountains are straddled across the 2 French departments of Drôme and Isère, and they are absolutely superb. Locals and tourists alike enjoy coming here to admire the views.
Come and explore the foothills of the Vercors
Ideally, this itinerary is to be explored by car, but if you're feeling up to it, it's also possible to explore by bicycle, along the Circuit de la Petite Raye for example.
Start at the little village of Baume-Cornillane where you can stop off and go along the "Découverte" (Discovery) footpath to admire the castle ruins.
Carry on towards the village of Barcelonne and explore the superb tower of the ancient feudal castle .
An absolute must-see is Chabeuil. Make sure you stop here and explore the typical town centre and ramparts.
If you venture along the narrow streets that lead to the heights of the village, you'll reach the Church of Saint John the Baptist , where a superb view over the valley awaits. You can also head to Peyrus and the Col des Limouches for an incredible, clear view over the valley, then go as far as Léoncel to admire the very beautiful abbey and come back down along the famous Col de Tourniol.
Finally, pass by Barbières where you'll be stunned by the breath-taking cliffs, Beauregard-Baret to visit Indian Valley and then Baume d’Hostun where the elves are hiding, much to the delight of your children.
Wherever you go, you'll always see the superb mountains and you'll never tire of admiring the beautiful views from morning to evening, thanks to the different colours that change depending on the sky.
Activities for tourists around the foothills of the Vercors
The main activity here is of course hiking. There are several routes available to admire the Vercors mountains.
One of the most popular hiking trails in the foothills of the Vercors is the Monts du Matin hiking trail . There are also several loops suitable for pedestrians or cyclists. All our recommedantions for walks and cycling routes are available from the tourist offices.
There are some great walks to go on if you would like to admire the limestone rocks overlooking the Valence plain and to explore the local wildlife.
If you would like to venture a bit further into the Vercors mountains, around 1 hour away from Valence and 40 minutes from Romans, you can go skiing, Nordic skiing, dog sledding as well as a whole host of other activities during the winter.
And when spring arrives, other activities become available such as paragliding, rock climbing, canyoning, caving, fat bike and so much more.
